Sarah J. "Sally" O'Conor, retired manager

She had worked for BSI Temporaries

Sarah O'Conor (Baltimore Sun )

February 04, 2014|By Frederick N. Rasmussen, The Baltimore Sun

Sarah J. "Sally" O'Conor, a retired branch manager for BSI Temporaries and a former longtime Ruxton resident, died Jan. 28 of complications from a stroke at the Life Care Center of Acton in Massachusetts. She was 88.

The daughter of William A. McLaren Sr., an attorney and former executive vice president of Druid Ridge Cemetery Co., and Lillie G. Wolf McLaren, a homemaker, the former Sarah Josephine McLaren was born in Baltimore and raised in Mount Washington.

She was the great-granddaughter of Isaac Stewart George, who had been president of Trader's Bank in Baltimore. She was the great-great-granddaughter of James B. George, who was a veteran of the War of 1812 and had been at Fort McHenry during the British siege.

After graduating in 1943 from Mount St. Agnes High School, she earned a bachelor's degree in history in 1947 from what is now Notre Dame of Maryland University.

During World War II, she volunteered with the American Red Cross and taught swimming.

From 1960 to 1963, she worked for the Baltimore Welfare Department. She later worked in several temporary employment agencies before joining BSI Temporaries in 1979, where she rose to become manager of its Baltimore branch. She retired in 1992.

She had been an active member of the Executive Women's Network in Baltimore and in 2000 received its Mandy Goetze Award for professional accomplishment.

The former Locust Avenue resident was a timber racing fan and especially enjoyed attending the Maryland Hunt Cup. She also was an Orioles and Red Sox fan, and liked to read and travel.

She was a former communicant of Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ Roman Catholic Church in Timonium.

She was married for 42 years to John Charles "Jack" O'Conor Sr., who had been an insurance adjuster for United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co. After his death in 2005, she moved to Acton, Mass.

She had been an active member of the United Women's Club of Concord in Massachusetts and The Milldames, a social club.

She was a communicant and volunteer at Holy Family Parish Roman Catholic Church, Monument Square, Concord, Mass., where a Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 10 a.m. Saturday. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. June 6 at Druid Ridge Cemetery, 7900 Park Heights Ave., Baltimore.

Mrs. O'Conor is survived by a son, John C. "Jay" O'Conor Jr. of San Francisco; and a daughter, Carolyn "Lyn" O'Conor-Ferguson of Acton.